Falmouth Town kick-off their second season back in the Western League on Saturday when they head to newly-promoted Brixham (kick-off 3 pm).

After a solid seventh-place finish on their return to the division following promotion from the South West Peninsula League Premier West, Town begins the new campaign at the Wall Park home of last year's SWPL Premier East champions.

It will be the first-ever league meeting between the teams, with Jack Bowyer and Tim Nixon scoring in Town's Walter C Parson League Cup victory over the Fishermen when the teams last met in 2018.

Opposition view

Brixham are making their debut in the Western League following their promotion from the SWPL Premier East last term. The Fishermen won 30 of their 36 games and scored a whopping 112 goals along the way as they clinched the title in style.

That was not where the Devonians' success ended, with the Wall Park outfit also battling their way to the fifth round proper of the FA Vase, with only a penalty shootout defeat at Corsham Town preventing them from reaching the quarter-finals.

Westy's words

"It's come around really quick and in pre-season we played five games in 12 days so it's been a busy couple of weeks, but the boys have had a good mix of games in there. We've had a high turnover of players – five out and six in – and we've had chances to try out a few things, so I think it's been a really good pre-season.

"I know we've lost a few players but it almost feels a lot more settled this season. I'm really, really pleased with the guys that we've had come in, I think they've had a real impact on the squad and they've definitely elevated us in my opinion. That's not to say that the guys that we lost wouldn't have done that, but you're always mindful of losing players and taking a step back, whereas with the guys that we've got in, it's given the squad a lift.

"It's a tough first game because it's the unknown but I think they've got a very, very good home record. Obviously they had a great season last year so they'll be on a natural high, we've been in their position and it's a game that we're really looking forward to. It'll certainly be a challenge because they had a really good FA Vase run last year. They're probably a bit like us in that their home form will be vital for them."